Located in the heart of the Kentlands, Dr. Sherman’s podiatry practice is easily accessible with free parking only a short distance from the door.	Dr. Sherman’s Potomac, Maryland location at 10000 Falls Road.

Podiatry is a field of medicine that strives to improve the overall health and well-being of patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions associated with the foot and ankle. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) are physicians and surgeons who practice on the lower extremities, primarily on feet and ankles.  For more information about podiatry, click here to visit the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Dr. Jon M. Sherman was born and raised in Rockville, Maryland and graduated from the Bullis School. He is a graduate of The University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated with honors from Temple School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia in 1998. He went on to a three year podiatric medicine and surgical residency at Tenet-Elkins Park Hospital. Dr. Sherman is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a Diplomat of The American Board of Podiatric Surgeons. His training has focused on both invasive and non-invasive treatment from sports injuries, wound care, and overall treatment of the foot and ankle. Dr. Sherman has served as a consultant for the Penn Relays and Marine Corps Marathon.

Dr. Jon M. Sherman is Board Certified, in Foot Surgery, by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.  Dr. Sherman is also a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

American Board of Podiatric Surgery
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

The Gaithersburg Foot and Ankle Surgery Center is a fully accredited surgical center in Dr. Sherman’s office

Dr. Sherman has opened his own ambulatory surgery center, certified and licensed by the state of Maryland. We found that we could offer specialized procedures in a more informal setting at a fraction of the cost associated with hospital surgery. Because outpatient foot surgery is all that we do here, we have become extremely proficient at this and our staff has done the procedures you may need hundreds of times.

We have all of the latest monitoring devices, operatory equipment and do procedures under local anesthesia or intravenous or conscious sedation. Our anesthesiologists are Board Certified and patients usually leave within 30 minutes after the completion of their procedure. We have a casual waiting room for family and friends. Parking is directly out front and free.

Doctor Sherman offers all of the following podiatric services:

• Bunions / Hammertoes
• Heel Spurs / Arch Pain
• Non-Surgical Treatment for Neuromas
• Diabetic Foot Care / Including Infections and Ulcerations
• Plantar Warts / Skin Conditions

Insurance plans accepted by Dr. Sherman:

Pediatric Foot Disorders Should I be concerned about the way my small child walks? Parents are concerned about the well-being and growth of their children. Often times the parent wore corrective shoes as a child or now has problems with their feet or ankles and wonders if their child will have the same fate. Below is a list of common concerns, what is considered normal, and when to seek our help.
	Podiatrist Jon Sherman, pictured here with his young patient, treats people of all ages and is an expert "foot doctor."

Toe Walking: Toe walking can normally be found in early walkers. Children should, however, start to walk heel to toe after 6 months of walking. If toe walking persists, you should always see a podiatrist to rule out an underlying neurological or musculoskeletal condition.

Bow Legs: At birth, infants have a small degree of bowing in their legs because of their position in the womb. This condition is usually temporary and the child will outgrow the bow legs by age 2 years. If the child still has bowing past 3 years, you should see your podiatrist.

Knock Knee: Knock knee is also a part of normal development of a child's growth. This condition usually starts at about age 2 and reaches its maximum at about age 4 years. It tends to disappear at age 6 or 7 years. If this condition is accompanied by foot, ankle, or knee pain or excessive tripping, or one leg looks much different than the other, see your podiatrist.

In-Toeing: The tendency to be in-toed (pigeon toed), like many of the previous conditions discussed, is inherited from the parents. A mild degree of in-toeing is perfectly normal. In fact, many professional athletes in-toe. Many children will outgrow this tendency by age 7 or 8 years. Some in-toeing is due to the position of the foot bones at birth. If your child is born with his or her toes pointed in and the foot forms a "C" shape when viewed from the bottom, seeing your podiatrist earlier may make it easier to correct this condition. When your child is older, if they trip often or complain of foot or leg pain, see your podiatrist.

When these treatment options are no longer providing the comfort you need, consultation with your podiatric physician is advised to discuss surgical options.

High Heels

Alternating high heels with lower ones enables your physique to adapt and benefit from the plus-points of all heel heights.

According to podiatrist Jon H. Sherman, totally flat shoes are not the ideal for overall health of the feet or legs: a small heel is better. "Low heels of half to three quarters of an inch are good for both the front and back of the foot," he says.

"Small heels not only help reduce tension in tendons and ligaments around the foot, they also help the calf muscles - which are tight in many women - to relax."   Higher heels (11/2in-21/2in) are best worn for limited periods, say around three to eight hours, providing you are having sitting breaks for half that time. At other times, wear lower heels.

Chronic Heel Pain

Having a bad foot day?
You may be surprised to know that your feet are not supposed to hurt and most foot problems can be resolved with early medical intervention. If you are having a foot problem, you are not alone; twenty percent of the population seeks help for a foot problem every year.

Shocking good news for chronic heel pain
Do you or someone you know have chronic heel pain? This condition is known medically as Plantar Fasciitis.

If your answer is yes to the above question, you may be interested in a relatively new alternative treatment called extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), a non-invasive procedure in which strong sound waves are directed at the area of pain. The device used for ESWT is very similar to the one currently used in non-surgical treatments of kidney and gall-bladder stones. This device generates strong shock waves at the treatment site. The ESWT treatment takes about 30 minutes and is performed under local anaesthesia and/or 'twilight' anaesthesia. ESWT is an out-patient procedure and does not require an overnight stay in the hospital.

In the U.S. alone, about two million cases of heel pain are reported each year and many are debilitating. ESWT has proven to be extremely effective in treating such conditions as plantar fascitis, commonly known as heel spurs. ESWT has also been used to treat tennis elbow and Achilles tendonitis.

Heel Pain Syndrome and ESWT

Finally, there's effective treatment for your chronic heel pain or other chronic orthopedic conditions...without open surgery or lengthy therapy sessions.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is restoring patients with chronic heel pain syndrome (Plantar Fasciitis) to a normal, active lifestyle with a single treatment. A non-invasive procedure similar to lithotripsy used in the treatment of kidney stones, ESWT uses therapeutic pressure waves to relieve the pain and inflammation to the ligament on the bottom of the foot.

With the FDA's approval of ESWT in 2001, hundreds of thousands of Americans can now experience this effective technology that has been used internationally for a decade to treat a variety of chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

Shockwave therapy uses high intensity sound waves to rid my patients of severe debilitating heel pain.

What is ESWT?
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, or ESWT, treats chronic heel pain syndrome (Plantar Fasciitis) and other tendonitis conditions. It is a non-invasive procedure in which therapeutic pressure waves are directed at the area of pain. In the case of chronic heel pain, energy is transmitted through electro-magnetic shockwaves and are directed at the plantar fascia, the ligament running along the bottom of the foot. The shockwaves stimulate a healing response in the affected non-healing tissue. The result is a reduction in inflammation and pain from the affected ligament.

Patients experience a short recovery period, often with few or no side effects. Most patients experience relief from the pain right away, but for others, the full results from a single treatment may be experienced in one to three months. Results typically last forever.

Our participating podiatrists and orthopedists utilize our Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) services for a variety of podiatric and orthopedic ailments, including plantar fasciitis. To learn more about Shockwave Therapy, click here.

Diagnostic Ultrasound

The Mindray DP-6600 is a state of the art diagnostic ultrasound unit that I utilize in my office, in lieu of x-rays. The DP-6600 is utilized for the diagnosis of tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, tendon ruptures, soft tissue masses such as fibromas, bursitis, cysts and ganglions, Morton's neuroma and other nerve tumors, capsulitis, plantar plate dysfunction, foreign bodies, bone injuries such as stress fractures, muscular injuries, ligament injuries, joint pathology and ultrasound guided injections and aspirations.

The DP-6600 works via ultrasound waves and eliminates radiation exposure to the patient.

BOTOX® for Hyperhidrosis

A little sweat is a good thing. In fact, brain-imaging studies in humans and neurochemical studies in animals have shown evidence that sweat inducing exercise actually makes a stronger brain. However, in a society that demands that you "never let them see you sweat," excessive perspiration, known medically as hyperhidrosis, can have physiological consequences such as cold and clammy hands, smelly feet and underarms, dehydration, and skin infections secondary to maceration.

Excessive sweating increases anxiety and stress in both occupational and social situations. There are even some “fiscal” consequences as well, including ruined clothing and shoes. Read More Click Here.

Sculptra and Restylane: “Pillows For Your Feet”

• Do you suffer from hard, bony prominences on your feet?
• Is touching the floor barefoot painful?
• Do the balls of your feet burn?

As we age, fat is often lost under the ball of the foot. This lost padding can be replaced with Sculptra or Restylane. Sculptra is made up of microscopic particles of polylactic acid (the same material used in some absorbable sutures). Restylane uses a form of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic Acid is the same in all animal species and therefore has a very low allergenic potential.

Call now for more information.

What is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or ESWT?
ESWT is a new procedure used to treat chronic heel pain syndrome and other tendonitis conditions. It is a non-invasive procedure in which therapeutic pressure waves are directed at the area of pain. The technology has been used in the successful treatment of hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide. One of the advantages of ESWT is that the risks associated with open surgery may be avoided.

What can be expected when a patient has ESWT?
ESWT is a non-invasive procedure and is performed on an outpatient basis. The procedure lasts approximately 30 - 45 minutes. During the treatment, the physician targets and directs therapeutic pressure waves to the affected area. The benefits of the treatment may take from one to three months to be fully effective. Dr. Sherman will schedule continued care visits and post-ESWT continuance therapy.

Is the ESWT procedure painful?
Prior to treatment, local anesthesia is administered to make the patient more comfortable. Afterward, there may be temporary discomfort.

What happens after the procedure?
The ESWT procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. Each patient is required to have a designated driver or guardian. Patients should be able to return to normal daily activities after a brief recuperative period. Consultation with Dr. Sherman will clarify any post-ESWT limitations or specifics that may apply to your case. Dr. Sherman will schedule continued care visits and post-ESWT continuance therapy.

Does insurance cover the treatment? Are there any other payment options?
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is gaining acceptance in the United States by major insurance carriers. Patients should request coverage for this therapy through Dr. Sherman's office or by directly contacting their insurance carrier to determine reimbursement. Direct patient payment and procedure financing may also be available.

Who is eligible for ESWT?
Generally, candidates for ESWT include patients with chronic heel pain syndrome or other tendonitis conditions in which the pain has lasted for more than several months without responding to conservative therapies such as strengthening exercises, stretching, massage, splints, taping, cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory medications.

• There is no cutting with this procedure. There are no major complications that you could get with ESWT surgery. ·
• Healing time with ESWT is 1,000 times faster. Heel spur surgery can take six months or more to heal. ·
• There is no risk of permanent nerve damage or joint damage to the foot with ESWT. ·
• No loss of time from work, which can occur with older open type heel spur surgery. ·
• With heel spur surgery, you can have severe post-operative pain. This doesn't happen with ESWT. ·
• "The most important reason to have ESWT over surgery is that you can replace the money but you can't replace the complications that possibly could occur with surgery."

Tips for Buying Shoes

RULE #1, buy a shoe that fits!!!!! Shoes do not have to cost hundreds of dollars in order to be comfortable they simply have to fit.

Every manufacturer sizes their shoes differently, so do not buy shoes solely based upon the number imprinted in the shoe.

Buy your shoes at the end of the day after your feet have had a chance to swell a bit. Wear or bring with you the sock you will be wearing in that shoe. If you are wearing a dress sock or panty hose and try on an athletic shoe when you would normally be wearing a thick athletic sock, you may not get a good feel for the fit of the shoe.

If your feet have a tendency to swell, your best bet is a lace-up or Velcro shoe. Slip-on shoes will not accommodate swelling. For more information, click here

Products

• Aetrex Footwear and Footcare Products
  
  
• Amerigel
  The manufacturer AmerX Health Care says using the dressing reduces healing time between 20 to 50 percent and eliminates patient soaking.
  
  
• Shoes
  
  
• Diabetic Shoes
  
  
• Birkenstock
  Birkenstock Custom-Made Orthotic Sandals and Clogs are made from scratch using genuine Birkenstock components. And as with all custom-made devices, the process begins when you cast your patients using your prefered neutral position casting technique and medium.



• Custom Made Inserts By Ortho-Rite
  The Ortho-Rite Ultra is a one piece appliance manufactured from the highest quality standards in the industry. The Ultra's one piece design eliminates any post evulsion. The heel contact point is 1 mm thick providing versatility for shoe fit. Patients in need of biomechanical control when heel depth and shoe fit are of concern.
  
  
• Naot Natural Footwear
  Flexibility, flair. Nestle into the softness and luxury of Naot shoes and sandals. Feel the relaxation envelop your being as you slip into the natural fit of Naot's stylish footwear.

Fitness and Your Feet, Click Here
Contact Sports and Your Feet, Click Here
Cycling and Your Feet, Click Here
Sports and Your Children's Feet, Click Here
Winter Sports and your Feet, Click Here

What Do I Do Before My Surgery?
Preoperatively, we sometimes do blood work to make sure your body is in good condition to recover. We also see you before the surgery to review your alternatives, the possible risks and complications, recovery, etc. We will also give you your prescriptions for pain and anti-inflammatory medicines.
If your surgery is to be done under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, you are to have no food or drink eight or more hours before surgery. That means no coffee, tea, etc. If you take medicines, be sure to ask us what to do about that before your surgery. Also, for sedation or general anesthesia cases, you are required to see your family doctor or internist before the surgery to get clearance. (Local anesthesia cases do not need this.)
Arrive for your case 60-90 minutes early, depending on where it is being done.
Be sure to wear lose fitting clothing to fit over your bandages. Arrange for someone to drive you home. Make sure your family, friends and neighbors spoil you rotten during your recovery!

Why was my foot taped?
Many times, foot pain is caused by abnormal mechanics or, simply put, the way your foot or ankle moves. Accordingly, in these situations, pills or shots only treat your symptoms since they don’t address the cause. When you stop the pills, or the shot wears off, the symptoms come back.
When we feel your problem is mechanical, we put tape on your foot to change the way it moves. If this relieves or temporarily resolves your symptoms, we can then feel confident that you need some type of support in your shoe to do the same thing. With the right type of support to change the way your foot or ankle moves, your injury can heal. Accordingly, be sure to pay close attention to when the tape felt the best or relieved most of your symptoms. We use that information to decide if you need custom or over-the-counter inserts or orthotics to treat your problem.

Why was I given an injection?
Swelling can create significant pain and lead to the breakdown of tissues. To expedite relief, a cortisone injection can help to reduce inflammation and break up adhesions or scar tissues that result from prolonged swelling. Most cortisone injections can take up to three weeks to reach maximum benefit.

Why was I given a splint to sleep in?
Heel pain can be caused or aggravated by a tight heel cord (Achilles tendon). Splints can be used to stretch the Achilles tendon while you sleep. The purpose is to stretch this and lessen the strain on the bottom or back of the heel. Most studies show that these splints should be used for six weeks to obtain maximum benefit. While they can be uncomfortable at first, slowly increasing the time it is used usually provides benefit.

Why was I placed in a hard cast?
When tissues have been injured by trauma or surgery, movement can slow or stop healing. In these cases, we use a hard cast to protect the foot and ankle from movement and trauma. The cast must be kept dry and, in some cases, off the ground. Watch out for tightness, numbness, calf pain, or shortness of breath. These can be signs of trouble. Also, do not use sharp objects to scratch any itching you may get while in the cast.

Why was I given crutches?
Anytime an injury or surgery is significant enough to force the need to be non-weight bearing, we dispense or prescribe crutches. If you were given crutches, we let you know if any weight can be placed on the injured or surgical part. Compliance with those instructions is critical to a full recovery, as weight on a part that should be protected can slow or stop healing.

Why was I given a removable cast?
Technology has made life easier for us in many ways. We now have removable casts that can protect and allow healing with minimal disruption with our lifestyles. You were given a removable cast because your fracture, sprain, or injury needs some protection but not as much as that offered with a hard cast or crutches. Remove the cast to bathe, drive, or sleep. Otherwise, wear it all times so that you may return to your normal routine sooner than later.

Why was I given a prescription for pills to treat my pain?
Mild to moderate swelling and pain can be treated with anti-inflammatory pills. Take these regularly and at the dosage prescribed to obtain maximum benefit. Stopping early or taking the medication irregularly can lead to recurrence of your problem or unnecessary pain.
Why was I given a prescription for pills for my toenails?
Fungus in the toenails is a very difficult problem to treat successfully. When the problem is significant enough, we use pills to kill the fungus. It is important for you to make sure we know the name of every medicine you are on to avoid interactions. It is also important for you to tell us if you get any side effects. The medicine kills fungus as it is incorporated into every new nail cell as they are made and from going into the nail from the skin beneath the nail. It has been shown to stay in your nails for up to nine months after you finish the pills, giving prolonged protection against recurrence. To help to make sure you have no internal problems from these pills, blood testing should have been done before you started and then while you remain on the medicine.

Why was I given a prescription for a cream to treat my skin and/or toenails?
In mild cases of fungal infections of the skin and/or nails, or if pills are not in your best interest, we give topical medicines. Skin clears up very nicely with this, but may require four to six months of use as it takes 28 days to make new skin. Nails are much more difficult to treat with topical medicines as they have a difficult time penetrating beneath the surface. In these cases, we use the topicals to prevent spread or worsening.

Directions to
60 Market St. Suite 202
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878

From I-270 North
Take exit for W. Montgomery Ave (Rt. 28 West)
Right on Great Seneca Highway
Left on Kentlands Blvd.
At the first circle, turn right onto Market Street
Brand new building on the right hand side, second entrance next to Lowe’s.

From Quince Orchard Road
Left on Kentlands Blvd.
At the first circle, turn right onto Market Street
Brand new building on the right hand side, second entrance next to Lowe’s.

From Darnestown
From Quince Orchard Road (Rt. 124) turn right onto Kentlands Blvd.
At the first circle, turn right onto Market Street
Brand new building on the right hand side, second entrance next to Lowe’s.